And so the parallels continue. Exodus 28 describes the appearance of the vestments to be worn by Aaron and subsequent priests. The level of detail is daunting, but, again, whilst reading through this chapter I couldn't help but think of the beautiful and ornate vestments still worn today by priests and bishops. The continuity remains; the Old Law illuminates the New. Among the reasons for God's requirement for so elaborate a vestment was this succinct declaration: "For glory and for beauty" (Exodus 28:2). Why should priests wear such lavish and showy vestments? For glory and for beauty! This is the worship of God we're dealing with here. My commentary mentions that "these prescriptions of God, which seem to us so minute, had a more sublime and mysterious meaning." It's easy to brush off things such as what a minister of God ought to wear -- it may seem, on the surface, as an unimportant issue. But in Wisdom 18:24 it is written, "For in the priestly robe which he wore, was the whole world: and in the four rows of the stones, the glory of the fathers was graven, and thy Majesty was written upon the diadem of his head" [italics added]. I loved the fact that the priest needed to have the words Doctrine and Truth inscribed on the rational before he could enter the sanctuary to worship. How gloriously symbolic! Doctrine and Truth: Urim and Thummim: Illumination and Perfection. These are the things necessary, even today, to piously approach the Lord.
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